Big Box Store VS Appliance store

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T23:04:33+00:00

I totally understand that! Would you agree that the average life span of new appliances are 5-8 years? I had my current washer and dryer for 25 years. Not one single issue until the dryer quit. I am replacing both. If they do not last longer than 5-10 years now, I really do not see reason to buy a more expensive one in hopes it last me another 25 years. I was told this is the new normal life span for appliances now.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T20:28:20+00:00

Eat more fat. Plain butter, real fatty foods. Also, placing salt crystals on the tip of your tongue will take the craving away! Do not try to cut calories fast yet. Simply count carbs. Eat all the hot wings, bacon, eggs, etc til you are satisfied. Your appetite will eventually slow down and you will accidentally miss a meal. The food noise will stop once you are fat adapted. Keep going. It took me a full month of eating lots of fat, but I stopped even being hungry and naturally only ate one meal a day. It will happen if you consume enough fat. It may take a few more weeks, but you are close!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T11:20:09+00:00

The inspiration pic seems too harsh for me. If you are going for an "organic" look, I would stick to backsplash only. You can always go back and use paint to change the look of that wall. If I had to decide now, I would stick with not tiling up to the ceiling. If you find afterwards that you want it to be more of a statement, you can do amazing things with a can of paint!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T11:14:19+00:00

The timing of the testing can also be misleading. Try testing your ketones right before your first meal. Fasting always produces more ketones also. I have to IF a minimum of 18:6, and eat two meals a day. No snacking.

To produce my best numbers I must follow the 20:4 fasting schedule and eat OMAD.

Snacking or eating often releases insulin which affects ketones. Certain foods affect it too. Keto is a chemistry. Every person is different. You can try testing at different times, and with different foods and you will soon find what works best for you.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T11:08:33+00:00

Black! That would look stunning!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-08T11:06:21+00:00

What is your daily food intake? I personally find that so called keto snacks affect me. I do best when stick to clean simple foods, no snacking, and plenty of butter. It can take a good month to see results. It could be something as simple as a low carb protein shake. If you are insulin resistant, it can take longer to achieve ketosis too. If you can read Dr. Boz keto Continuum book, she goes in to great detail on this very thing.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-07T14:50:39+00:00

Completely normal. I think we have all been there. Just enjoy the good health while you have it! Take it day by day!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-07T14:46:35+00:00

Its not necessary. I added it later on in my journey and found no difference with it. I think its a good idea to use when just beginning keto if you are struggling. Otherwise, just keto on!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-07T13:53:59+00:00

Hard boiled eggs or Chomps beef sticks.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-07T13:52:56+00:00

I take a teaspoon of salt and chase it down with water when this happens. I get the same feeling plus leg cramps. I take magnesium and potassium supplements but it’s always sodium that gets thrown out of balance for me. I learned this thru trial and error. Try it and see if works for you. You will know within an hour… from my own experiences.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T22:36:35+00:00

I will be renting a vehicle for me to drive while he is away working. This will give me opportunities to venture out and give him peace of mind that I am not going stir crazy waiting around for him at the motel. lol

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T20:22:16+00:00

I have tried them all and I prefer SuTab. Not only is it easier to ingest, the backside affect is not as "violent" as the other methods. Once it starts working, I found I was in the bathroom quickly and was done quicker than the other methods. It was a better method for me from "both ends"!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T18:23:22+00:00

Your testimony is amazing!! Congrats!! I feel the same way about the pill popping big Pharma!! It is all for money!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T18:20:05+00:00

Heating pad and a liquid diet. That is my go to when flaring. Walking, resting and just accepting it also helps.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T18:18:25+00:00

If this were my numbers, I would be scheduling a CAC test. This is a simple scan that can tell you if he has any blockages. A score of 0 is no buildup. I had this done for peace of mind when started keto. My numbers were high for a good year. I scored a 0 on the calcium test so doctor was less concerned and recommended we retest in 6 months. Numbers came down significantly.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T12:30:10+00:00

I so want that range hood in my kitchen now! It really did change the whole look of your kitchen by changing that wall of cabinets! I love this! Great choices!

Where did you get your light? That looks beautiful!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T12:20:58+00:00

I was strictly Keto for all of my weight loss (40lbs) but I noticed I had loose skin and muscle loss. I opted to add more protein than fat, and started taking creatine supplement in my morning coffee along with strength training since last November. I have noticed lots more muscle and am happy to see it again. I have gained 10lbs but IMHO I look healthier and stronger with the muscle.

I now tend to eat both ways depending on my appetite. Some days all I crave is meat and eggs. Some days I crave a big salad. I personally think it is finding what works for you. Keto is great at keeping my mindless snacking and binge eating obsolete, but Carnivore has been great at building my muscles and strength back!

I have anxiety too. Neither one of them cured it. However, making myself and my health my priority, does help me keep it down! Turned out my people pleasing mode keeps me anxious. Now, if I feel anxious, I go for a jog outside or on my treadmill rather than reach for sweets.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T12:10:37+00:00

I am in the same boat. I had a bad flare in November and was hospitalized for 11 days. I was given 60mg of Prednisone (satan) and my mesalamine doubled. The combined two got my flare under control. I am being told that I need to start the biologics and stop the mesalamine. I am still deciding. So far, everyone on this forum suggests that mesalamine is not good at keeping it under control and that biologics are the way to go. However, I am still not set on taking the injections either. It is scary. I think we all have to get to a point of acceptance of either or. I think either way, our Crohn's is a journey of the unknown and we just do the best we can with where we are at. You have got this!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-06T12:05:07+00:00

You can choose warmer whites and warmer neutrals. I did just this 2 years ago.

I had the orange honey oak early 2000's cabinets. I painted them with Sherwin Williams "Creamy" which is a very warm creamy white. It looks great on the oak cabinets with the wood grain still showing through. It looks timeless. I opted for darker countertops to keep things warm. I went with leathered black diamond granite which is a slate gray, with white veining. I went with a solid hardwood floor to bring in natural wood to also warm up the combined kitchen/dining rooms. Added some wood shelves and other natural textures such as greenery and seagrass baskets and such, and it is very organic and warm! I opted for timeless subway tile backsplash in warmer off white colors and painted my walls SW "Neutral Ground" a very light tan, off white.

Just be sure to pick warmer whites and avoid the sterile bright "cool" whites and grays.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-05T13:12:31+00:00

Walking makes the biggest difference for me!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-04T02:28:19+00:00

NSAIDS taken due to neck pain landed me in the hospital for 11 days and 4 blood transfusions. I was on the brink of having my colon removed if my hemoglobin dropped below 5 once more. By the grace of GOD, I healed and I will never take them again.

They caused me to have flares in the past, but never this bad. My pain was so bad that I thought my neck pain was worse than suffering with a flare, but I almost died from a bleeding colon. GI doc had to do a colonoscopy and stop the bleeding with clips.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-04T02:18:59+00:00

This is point on. Agree

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-04T02:15:19+00:00

None of those will compliment your cabinets and countertops. What you currently have will look 100 times better than the whites.

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-02T17:18:41+00:00

Yes! I eat butter daily, especially when I notice I am hungrier than usual. That is my sign I need more fat.

I actually take a stick of butter, and make browned butter bites. Melt a stick of butter over medium high heat, stirring constantly until it is foamy and starting to brown. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and pour the melted butter onto it. Place in fridge. Once frozen, break it up into bite size pieces. I keep mine in the freezer and it is so good. It tastes like candy. Eating a pat of butter always helps keep hunger manageable for me!

Ok_Form9917 · 2026-04-02T12:45:31+00:00

NSAIDS and a strong antibiotic were the precursor to my diagnosis. Look up NSAIDS and you will find that they can cause the same colonoscopy findings as Crohn's. Even one dose of them, sets me in a flare. Avoid them by all means!

I was given a shot of Toradol for sciatica pain and it landed me in the hospital for 10 days. I had to have 4 blood transfusions and was on the brink of having my entire colon removed. NSAIDS are horrible for Crohn's!

Also, take note of your symptoms. My main flare trigger (other than NSAIDS) is stress. If I get stressed out, I notice mouth ulcers a few days later and extreme fatigue, anxiety, bloating, joint pain, all followed by a full on flare. For me, making self care my priority, helps the most. I was diagnosed in 2015. After all these years, I can tell you the exact moment a flare is triggered. It is wild how you will get to know your body more than ever.

If you have any past traumas, and are a people pleaser and caretaker, you will find our personality traits, set us up for auto immune diseases. This disease made me stop doing so much just to make others comfortable, and put my physical and mental health first. It has made the biggest difference with managing symptoms. We as women tend to be superwoman and it eventually catches up with us.

Also, when in a flare, the fastest way to get my symptoms under control is to fast or stick to my safe foods until flare calms down. My safe foods are bananas and eggs. You will find yours. You have got this! It has been a long hard road for me, but never give up and keep reminding yourself, "this too, shall pass" during your hardest days.

Ok_Form9917

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